As of this moment, China's Shanghai Composite is down 42.11% from its June 12th high of 5,178.19; it presently sits at 2,964.97. Even more remarkable is the fact that, since Friday of last week, the Shanghai composite has fallen 19.08%. China's momentous Monday downturn also cut the wealth of its billionaires by over $14 billion (some individuals even entered the dreaded "millionaire" club).
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Hillary Clinton, Poster Child For Financial Illiteracy
Hopefully by now, as an experienced American voter, you've realized politicians will promise their constituents anything in exchange for votes: call it quid pro quo incompetency. In most every example, be they liberal or conservative, presidential candidates address voter concerns by publicly declaring how they "understand" middle class problems and will undoubtedly, upon taking office, "support" all "comprehensive" and "bipartisan" solution.
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"T" Stands For Twitter
Every Silicon Valley techie knows that Google (GOOGL) Co-Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin created a holding company, named "Alphabet," to oversee Google's many growing business lines (many of which don't align with Google's core operations). While some investors and tech analysts speculate that Alphabet's conception is meant to address potential (current and future) antitrust issues.
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How China Just Elected President Trump
Surprise, China just devalued its currency... again! Over the past 24 hours, the People's Bank of China decided to depreciate the Yuan by 1.9%, making the U.S. dollar the strongest performing currency to date. This monetary action is nothing new in the current era of globalization; in fact, China has long been (rightfully) accused of purposely devaluing its currency so as to increase foreign direct investments and heighten its export-driven economy.
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Twitter Never Fails To Fail
For those familiar with Bethany McLean's The Smartest Guys In The Room, the forthcoming comparison will make sense; for those unfamiliar with her book, regarding Enron's executive leadership, the following analogy may fall on deaf ears. In any case, allow me to preface all further Enron remarks by first decrying the company's actions. While its employees were, for the most part, incredibly intelligent, Enron epitomizes all that was, and still is, wrong with corporate America.
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You're Not Smarter Than Markets
Valuing companies has become damn near impossible. America's volatile economic environment, currently fueled by low interest rates and a strengthening dollar, has left investors searching for "yield." Nowhere is this transition more evident than in fixed income markets. As investors sell bond and Treasury holdings for high dividend and growth stocks, valuations have soared to record levels.
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America's Most Powerful Female
What is quantitative easing, and why does it matter? Will a Fed interest rate hike derail global growth prospects? How will the stock market respond to lower inflation? Will investors panic and induce a global asset selloff? These are the questions that keep Janet Yellen, America's most powerful woman, awake at night.
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